Biphasics sleep patterns in pre-industrial England/Europe

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on biphasic sleep patterns in pre-industrial England and Europe, as explored in Roger Ekirch's book, "At Day's Close: A History of Nighttime." Participants highlight the social and intimate aspects of this sleep style, where individuals would engage in conversation and physical intimacy during the waking hours between sleep cycles. The phenomenon is contrasted with modern perceptions of insomnia, particularly the tendency to wake at 3 AM, which may be linked to stress or anxiety. Additionally, the impact of biphasic sleep on creativity and cognitive health is examined, with references to literature such as Robert Harris's "The Second Sleep."

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of biphasic sleep patterns
  • Familiarity with historical sleep practices
  • Knowledge of sleep disorders and their implications
  • Awareness of the relationship between sleep and cognitive health
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the historical context of sleep patterns in pre-industrial societies
  • Explore the effects of biphasic sleep on creativity and cognitive function
  • Investigate modern interpretations of insomnia and sleep disorders
  • Read "The Second Sleep" by Robert Harris for a fictional perspective on biphasic sleep
USEFUL FOR

This discussion is beneficial for historians, sleep researchers, psychologists, and anyone interested in the cultural implications of sleep patterns and their effects on health and creativity.

Astronuc
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BBC has an interesting article on sleep patterns in pre-industrial England and Europe, and it seems natural in other animals.

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20220107-the-lost-medieval-habit-of-biphasic-sleep

Historian Roger Ekirch "explains in his book, At Day's Close: A History of Nighttime, people would often just stay in bed and chat. And during those strange twilight hours, bedfellows could share a level of informality and casual conversation that was hard to achieve during the day.For husbands and wives who managed to navigate the logistics of sharing a bed with others, it was also a convenient interval for physical intimacy – if they'd had a long day of manual labour, the first sleep took the edge off their exhaustion and the period afterwards was thought to be an excellent time to conceive copious numbers of children."

I wonder about that in the context of some of my ancestors, especially where the father is unknown, and the offspring have the mother's family name.
 
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Astronuc said:
BBC has an interesting article on sleep patterns in pre-industrial England and Europe, and it seems natural in other animals.

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20220107-the-lost-medieval-habit-of-biphasic-sleep

Historian Roger Ekirch "explains in his book, At Day's Close: A History of Nighttime, people would often just stay in bed and chat. And during those strange twilight hours, bedfellows could share a level of informality and casual conversation that was hard to achieve during the day.For husbands and wives who managed to navigate the logistics of sharing a bed with others, it was also a convenient interval for physical intimacy – if they'd had a long day of manual labour, the first sleep took the edge off their exhaustion and the period afterwards was thought to be an excellent time to conceive copious numbers of children."

I wonder about that in the context of some of my ancestors, especially where the father is unknown, and the offspring have the mother's family name.
For those interested in bi-phasic sleep and its effect on culture and who enjoy reading science fiction novels, consider "The Second Sleep" by English novelist Robert Harris.

While many of Harris's novels set in the past, "Second Sleep" occurs ~800 years in a future rural England. The protagonist, an educated priest, describes and chronicles two part sleep patterns where the person goes to bed at dark; sleeps for a few hours; wakes for a few hours of reading, study, perhaps a light meal; then returns to bed to sleep until dawn. IMS this fictional society does not include electric lights so that dark night retains more significance than in our culture. The character's profession precludes overt sexuality but there is a housekeeper.

While not a major novel, I was intrigued by the concept of two-stage sleep. I often wake a few hours into a night's sleep. I think "second sleep" and reach for a good book or review what I have read during the day.
 
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My mom was a bi-phasic sleeper, and my wife and I wonder if that was somehow inherited. We also wonder if that contributed to onset of dementia late in life.

Somewhere, I have a book entitled "Wide Awake at 3 am". It was about creativity.

The phenomenon is considered a form of insomnia or some kind of sleep disorder in modern times.
https://health.clevelandclinic.org/why-do-you-always-wake-up-at-3-a-m/
https://www.healthline.com/health/sleep/why-do-i-keep-waking-up-at-3-am
https://thesleepcharity.org.uk/why-do-you-keep-waking-up-at-3am/

If it is related to stress or anxiety, and it adversely affects restful sleep, then it is a disorder. Otherwise, if one awakes after Second Sleep fully rested, it should not be a problem.
 
Jean-Jacques Rousseau did all of his writing at 4am.
 
Astronuc said:
My mom was a bi-phasic sleeper, and my wife and I wonder if that was somehow inherited. We also wonder if that contributed to onset of dementia late in life.

<snip>
If it is related to stress or anxiety, and it adversely affects restful sleep, then it is a disorder. Otherwise, if one awakes after Second Sleep fully rested, it should not be a problem.
My mother also experienced bi-phasic sleep; often dozing as Dad fell asleep early, then reading in bed until 0300, rising 4 to 6 hours later. She experienced little, if any, dementia in old age. Mom told stories of her grandmother sleeping ~4 hours a night then rising early to clean her entire house well into her 90's.

Rather than dementia, we noticed a relation between 'second sleep' and dream intensity and retention.
 
Klystron said:
dream intensity and retention
I think getting into a deep restful sleep, with dreaming and retention are key.
 
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